WINNERS

Zoltán Májer began composing and learning on both the organ and piano at the age of four, driven by an intrinsic gift for improvisation and innate musicality. Over time, he expanded his work to include music for organ, piano, chamber music, and full symphonic orchestra. His compositions have been performed throughout Europe, and in Canada. One of his most celebrated compositions, “Variations on Tetris Theme”, was selected as one of the TOP 20 organ works at the international Organ Taurida 2021 festival, chosen from over 500 composers from all around the world. The piece’s impact led Russian music festivals to name concert series as “From Bach to Tetris” in its honour.
(Photo: Gábor Fehér - FMH - Source: feol.hu)

Dr Sandon Lowe is a medical doctor and amateur organist based in Tasmania, Australia. Following his medical education’s focus on organs (the other kind), in 2020 he purchased a second-hand organ (the musical kind). This was fortuitous timing as during the pandemic’s many lockdowns Sandon taught himself organ composition in order to compose a work in his favourite form—the fugue. As he often says, while medicine is his occupation, music has always been his preoccupation. He is honoured that his debut organ composition is receiving international recognition and is excited to hear it performed by a professional.

Tyler Versluis is an Ontario-based composer, organist and conductor. His music is commissioned and performed by a growing list of Canadian ensembles and organizations, and is performed internationally, Recently his music has been featured at the Winnipeg New Music Festival, the University of Toronto New Music Festival, Festival Forfest (Czechia), Arts Forum Festival (Kraków), and Muzyka na Szczytach (Zakopane). In 2022 his work for accordion duo and woodwind trio "Quintet" was released on the album "Accosphere" on Poland's DUX Records. Originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, Tyler now lives in Toronto, where he is music director at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Islington. https://www.tylerversluis.com/

JUDGES

Denis Bédard FRCCO FRSCM has given organ recitals across Canada, in the United States, in France and in Brazil and pursues an international career as a composer.  He was organist and music director at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver from 2001 to 2021.  His compositions include chamber music, orchestral and vocal music and many organ works.  He has received numerous commissions and his works are performed and recorded throughout the world.  His music, essentially tonal and melodic, is characterized by a concern for formal clarity and immediate communication with as vast a public as possible.

Wendy Markosky is chair of the music department at Burman University in Lacombe, where she teaches undergraduate theory, aural skills, piano, and organ. She is an active solo and ensemble performer, and especially enjoys performing with several early music groups in Alberta. She serves on two national committees of the RCCO. Wendy holds DM and MM degrees in organ from the School of Music at Indiana University-Bloomington where she also studied carillon and harpsichord, was an associate instructor of music theory, and served as university chapel organist. She holds undergraduate degrees in music and biology.

Michael Capon is active in Kingston Ontario as a performer, conductor, composer, and teacher, and serves as Music Director at St James Anglican Church. In addition to his long career as a church musician, he has performed solo and collaboratively; acted, music directed, and composed music and lyrics for theatrical productions; directed community choirs and orchestras; taught organ and music theory students; and adjudicated at music festivals and competitions. His compositions have been published by the RCCO and Augsburg Fortress. Michael plays harpsichord for the Kingston Baroque Consort, and the Melos Choir and Period Instruments ensemble. Michael served on the Anglican Church task force that assembled “Sing a New Creation”, the new supplement to the “Common Praise” hymn book.